WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department has cleared an F-16 upgrade package for sale to Greece, with an estimated worth of more than $2.4 billion.
The proposed sale, posted Tuesday by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, would help Greece “as a deterrent to regional threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and execute counter-terrorism operations,” according to the sale notification.
The fighter jet upgrade package will bring Greece’s fleet of Block 30, Block 50, Block 52+ and Block 52+ Advanced F-16 configurations to the F-16 V standard.
The core of the F-16V upgrade is the APG 83 active electronically scanned array radar, of which 125 are included in the proposed package. In addition, the stated package includes 123 Modular Mission Computers, 123 Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems, 123 LN-260 Embedded Global Navigation Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems, and 123 Improved Programmable Display Generators, plus assorted supplies and training.
DSCA notifications are alerts to Congress that the State Department has cleared a potential sale, and they do not represent final agreements. Dollar figures and quantities can often change during final negotiations.
Work will primarily be done at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility. While there are no offsets currently attached to the deal, the DSCA announcement notes that Greece “typically requests offsets” and says those will be finalized during contract negotiations.
Aaron Mehta was deputy editor and senior Pentagon correspondent for Defense News, covering policy, strategy and acquisition at the highest levels of the Defense Department and its international partners.
